The Bahamas Government formed the Civil Aviation Department in May 1946 and Wing Commander E.H. Coleman, Air Force Commander, a former Airline Captain with Imperial Airways, was appointed Director.
On June 1, 1946, the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) withdrew from The Bahamas and Windsor Field, their base of operation, was closed to all traffic. At the same time The Bahamas Government assumed control of the Oakes Field Airport, which was selected as the major civil airport of the colony, because of its extensive runways, facilities and buildings, which were readily adaptable for civil aviation purposes and proximity to Nassau. The airport was transformed from a military into a civil airport and two non-commissioned officers were retained as controllers on secondment from the R.A.F. for several weeks to assist in training civilian controllers.
An establishment of personnel was considered necessary for the operation of the airport on a civilian basis and a proposal was submitted to Government for approval. In July 1946, the airport was administered and controlled entirely by civil personnel and the CAD was organized in sub- sections, consisting of Administration, Accounts, Air Traffic, Fire Fighting and Airport Maintenance. Airport charges for landing and parking fees and use of facilities were compiled and brought into force by legislation in September of 1946.
At the Regional Caribbean Conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the entity responsible for the “planning and development of international air transport (setting regulations, standards, and procedures) so as to ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world,” held in Washington in September 1946, which the Director of Civil Aviation, Bahamas attended as a delegate, Oakes Field was recommended for designation as a long-range regular airport.
On January 1, 1947, the Department became fully self- accounting and an annual vote was granted based on estimates of revenue and expenditure made at the latter part of the previous year. During this year the airport’s board was formed, comprising a chairman and five members; two of whom were members of the House of Assembly, who were responsible forgeneral management and control of land, buildings, equipment and facilities at any Government-owned airport.
The Air Transport Licensing Authority was appointed in 1953. This committee, which comprised a chairman, not less than three members and a Secretary, issued, renewed or revoked licenses or permits to operate air services within The Bahamas. That responsibility, among others, was transferred to CAD, which worked to ensure the operation and maintenance of a safe, sustainable air transportation industry that positively impacted the development of the country’s aviation industry.
The main functions of the Civil Aviation Department were:
Responsibility for a safe and orderly flow of air traffic.
Licensing of aircrew and aircraft engineers.
Licensing of aircrew and aircraft and issuance of certificates of airworthiness.
Inspection and licensing of airports and airstrips.
Implementation of International Civil Aviation Organization regulations.
Cleaning and maintaining Government-owned airports.
On April 1, 1956, Mr. Hartis Thompson, a Bahamian, was appointed Director of Civil Aviation. He became the first Bahamian to fill that position. Other Directors of Civil Aviation (all Bahamian) include Mr. Donald Ingraham, Mr. Philip Powell, Mr. Aidan Tynes, Mr. Arthur Symonette (Ag.), Mr. Ciano Ricardo Strachan, Mr. Cyril Saunders, Captain Patrick Rolle, Mr. Ivan L. Cleare (Ag.), Mr. Keith Major (Ag.) and, currently, Captain Charles Beneby.
On July 10, 1973 the Commonwealth of The Bahamas became an independent county, and on June 26, 1973 became a Contracting/Signatory State of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The passage of the United States’ Deregulation Act of 1978 and, later, the dismissal of over 11,000 Air Traffic Controllers – members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) in 1981 – were two events that shook aviation in the United States, and to some extent internationally, to its roots.
In 1982, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department experienced significant growth in air traffic movement with over 100,000 flights which resulted in more than 1.25 million passengers moving through our airports.
The introduction of the Radar Control in The Bahamas on May 15, 1986, was an historic event. It vastly improved the safety and efficiency of the Bahamian Air Traffic Control System. Other improvements in aviation included the construction of a new U.S.A. Pre-clearance terminal and a new Control Tower and Radar Control facility. More recently, we have seen the redevelopment of Nassau International Airport (re-named in 1957) and now Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), further re-named on July 6, 2006, with domestic and international passenger terminals comparable to those in developed countries.
In 2001, The Flight Standards Inspectorate unit was formed under the management of Captain Patrick Rolle.
In 2011, The Bahamas became the first in the North American Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Region to implement the State Safety Programme (SSP).
In its quest to engage in an Air Transport Reform Programme, on May 27, 2013, The Bahamas Government awarded a turnkey contract to Indra Sistemas of Spain for the supply and installation of a collocated Primary Surveillance S-Band Radar (PSR) and a Monopulse Secondary Radar System (MSSR) Mode S Capable and an Approach Control Centre (APP) for the Lynden Pindling International Airport. Also included with the radar system were a Radar Approach Control Simulator and a 3D Tower Simulator that are to be used for the training of air traffic controllers on New Providence, in the first instance, and expanding to include additional Family Islands as the air traffic control service expands.
Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department and, during the last 70 years, CAD served as the regulator, operator and service provider of the country’s aviation industry, charged with the responsibility of ensuring that regulations are in place to manage the development and operation of a national aviation industry governed by legislation and compliance with international standards, guidelines and best practices. Despite the growing pains of its formative years and the consistent challenges the aviation industry provides, the country is proud of its achievements in developing an industry characterized by a commitment to safety and security – with Air Traffic Control as an integral aspect of industry safety.
However, on October 3, 2016, with the enactment of the Civil Aviation Act, 2016, another historic moment emerged, as the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) transitioned to Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), effecting separation of the regulatory and safety and security oversight functions from the service provider (airport operations and air navigation services), ensuring that The Bahamas is better poised to meet ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
Within the newly created BCAA, an Independent Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID), Air Transport Licensing Department and subsidiary Bahamas Air Navigation Services Department (BANSD), comprising Air Traffic Services, Communications Navigation and Surveillance/ Airway Facility Services and Aeronautical Information Services/Management exist; and the 28 Family Island Aerodromes/Airports and Air Rescue and Fire Fighting services were transferred to the Airport Authority.
The new Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority, still undergoing transformation, is aware of the positive role that aviation plays in the economic development of The Bahamas and is continually seeking ways to improve the movement of passengers and goods necessary for internal and international commerce. The civil aviation industry in The Bahamas continues to evolve, as the country continues to accentuate the No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative by ICAO, in an effort to assist all of its 191 Member States in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) is presently an arm of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and governed by a Board. In January 2017, the first three-member Board of Directors was formed: Mrs. Wendy Craigg (Chairperson) and Messrs. Michael Allen and Rev. Heuter Rolle. Following a change in government on May 10, 2017, a five-member Board was appointed, with effect from July 1, 2017, with Mrs. Craigg and Rev. Heuter Rolle being retained as Chair and Member, respectively, along with newly appointed Directors/Members: Mr. Bryan Glinton, Mrs. Kristal Carey and Dr. Sophia Rolle.
Since 10th April, 2017, Captain Charles Beneby assumed the post of Director General, Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) and Mr. Keith Major, General Manager of Bahamas Air Navigation Services Division (BANSD).
Following are successes of civil aviation in The Bahamas:
Over the past 39 years, The Bahamas has successfully completed the Ratification/Accession of some 16 International Air Law Instruments of ICAO.
On August 2011, The Bahamas, through the expert assistance of ICAO’s Technical Cooperation Bureau (TCB), was the first ICAO North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) State to successfully launch the State Safety Programme;
The Bahamas serves as a member on the joint Performance-based Navigation (PBN) Implementation Task Force, and Dangerous Goods (DG) and Aviation Data and Analysis Panels.
In May 2016, the Civil Aviation Department hosted NACC/DCA06 with some 90 attendees, and in December 2016, the International Civil Aviation Air Negotiations event (ICAN2016) with over 500 participants.